Battery bounces Dynamo from U.S. Open Cup tourney

Dynamo lose again at U.S. Open CupCharleston ousts MLS champions 4-3 in shootout

Chronicle News Services

Published 5:30 am, Wednesday, July 2, 2008

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Battery again had more juice than the Dynamo.

For the second time in as many years, it was one and out for the Dynamo in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

A reserve-heavy version of the two-time defending MLS champions was eliminated in exasperating fashion Tuesday night, losing to the Battery 4-3 in a penalty-kick shootout after playing to a 1-1 tie through 120 minutes of regulation and two overtime periods.

The result marked the second consecutive year that the Battery, currently the standings leader in the United Soccer Leagues' top division, oust the Dynamo in third-round play at Blackbaud Stadium. Last year, the Dynamo lost to Charleston 1-0 in extra time.

MLS rookies Geoff Cameron and Franco Caraccio missed the third and fifth spot kicks for the Dynamo, respectively, while the Battery converted their first four to notch a berth in the quarterfinals of the United States Soccer Federation-sanctioned tournament, which runs parallel to both MLS and USL seasons.

Charleston will face FC Dallas on July 8 after beating Miami FC 2-1 on Tuesday.

The Dynamo played mostly reserves because the team plays at Real Salt Lake on Thursday in league action.

They forced extra time in dramatic fashion, getting an 89th-minute header goal by Stephen Wondolowski off a Caraccio assist to even things at 1 after trailing for most of the match.

Marco Reda put the Battery ahead in the 29th minute with a header of his own during a first half dominated by the hosts.

The Dynamo enjoyed a numerical advantage starting in the 74th minute, when Charleston substitute Chris Corcoran was red-carded for a late tackle on Chris Wondolowski.

The Battery played the second extra time with nine men after Reda was sent off after drawing his second yellow card for Charleston's second ejection of the match.

Despite the two-man edge late, the Dynamo couldn't capitalize to avoid the shootout.